Forget the Silver, I Covet the Quilt!

Starting a blog has introduced me to many new ideas, contacts and information. One wonderful upshot has been connecting with people near and far. After my post regarding my great grandfather Ben Strong, I heard from my New Zealand cousin, and he shared a document he’s working on cataloging all the family heirlooms my Aunt and Uncle have in NZ.  It appears that while my mother had not a single sentimental bone in her body, my dad’s younger brother and his charming NZ wife most certainly did.

My mom blithely got rid of all sorts of things that had been in the family. I distinctly remember a sterling silver wedding bowl gifted to my grandparents by some men’s club members which was in a box of old family things in our attic in Darien. That hit the garbage. The Strong family bible I remember her throwing out in 1987 in Pittsburgh. A number of items my parents had also ended up being handed “down” to my Aunt and Uncle, who then moved their 2 young sons to NZ in 1985.

 According to my cousin’s write up, there is a huge chest of drawers which is identified as having been given to my aunt and uncle by  my parents “when they were redoing Erica’s room which came from the Litchfield, Ct property.” Good grief! That most certainly is not making the journey back across the sea.

Now, the silver! I think it’s a good thing my aunt and uncle had all this as I suspect my mother would have sold it all to be melted down back in the 1980s when silver was sky high. There is a huge sterling tea set, numerous large bowls, gravy boat, bread basket, lots of silverware (including a fruit set – knives and forks specifically for eating fruit), and the most astonishing standing sterling silver jewelry box (yes envy). To say nothing of the Tiffany enamel smoking set owned by Ben Strong (double digit envy).

 But the one photo that made my heart stop was the CRAZY QUILT made by my great grandfather’s sister Aunt Jane Strong (2/18/1866 to 10/1955) She never married and I have numerous photos of her – including one of her sewing!

Jane Strong 1866-1955 sewing in Woods Hole, MA

Sigh. Forget all the silver, I covet the quilt!